Bachelor of Arts

Arabic - unit set code MJ-A000029

Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Cloud (online)

The Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa form an area of critical global importance having broad strategic, economic, religious and cultural influence. The Middle East comprises the fourth largest trading block among Australia's overseas trading partners, with the total value of Australia's trade with the Middle East more than doubling in the last decade. The major sequence provides for the development of communication skills in modern standard Arabic and language fluency is enhanced through contextual knowledge of Middle Eastern history, culture and society. Students taking Arabic are encouraged to take complementary units in the relevant area studies in order to obtain sound background knowledge of the cultural, geopolitical and historical issues relevant to the regions where Arabic is spoken.

Competitive in-country scholarships are available to assist students in study in the Middle East. For further information please contact the experiential learning officer on telephone 03 5227 2693.

Students undertaking the Arabic major or the Language and Culture Studies major (referred to later) are encouraged to study abroad during the trimester 3. Intensive in-country units provide opportunities for students to increase their level of linguistic proficiency and cultural understanding. De akin has well-established links with a number of institutions in Syria, Jordan, Oman and Tunisia. These relationships form an important feature of the Arabic program.

In-country units are offered at both second and third-level levels, and students who successfully complete these units will receive 2 credit points towards the major sequence.

It is possible, therefore, for students to complete the major sequence in two levels. This is an excellent way of accelerating completion of the major. Not only is the in-country experience a unique part of the language study, the fact that students will have completed the major in tow levels gives them flexibility in the third level to take additional units.

The Arabic major sequence is offered at two levels; beginners' level (little or no prior knowledge of the language) and post-level 12 Arabic.

On successful completion of the Arabic major sequence, students should have the following skills:

an ability to read, comprehend and respond correctly in writing in Arabic

an ability to listen, comprehend and communicate orally with correct grammar, pronunciation and intonation in Arabic

an ability to understand oral interpreting and written translation tasks, from English into Arabic and vice versa, at an advanced level (post-level 12 level)

an ability to use the language to research an understand various cultural practices in the Arab world.